Every Weekend Custody Schedule
One parent has the children every weekend. Uncommon but useful when work or travel patterns demand it.
by The CoreParent Co-Founders · Last updated
In short
One parent has the children on school days and the other has them every weekend. In the calendar, that is Monday through Friday with Parent A and Saturday and Sunday with Parent B: 10 of 14 days and 4 of 14, about 70/30.
How it works
Parent A has the children Monday through Friday during the school week. Parent B picks up on Saturday morning (some families use Friday evening) and has the children through Sunday. Parent B has all 52 weekends per year; Parent A has all weekday evenings.
A two-week example
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | A | A | A | A | A | B | B |
| Week 2 | A | A | A | A | A | B | B |
Both weeks look the same, so the pattern repeats every week. Parent B's weekend starts Saturday morning in this layout; if pickup moves to Friday evening, Parent B gains one night a week.
By the numbers
- Cycle: 1 week, the same every week.
- Time with each parent: Parent A 10 of 14 days, Parent B 4 of 14 days (71/29).
- Exchanges: 2 per week.
- Longest stretch: Parent A 5 days in a row, Parent B 2 days in a row.
What makes it work
- Work schedules that really fit. It works best when the weekday parent is free on school nights and the weekend parent works during the week, so each parent covers the time they actually have.
- Sharing the school side. The weekend parent misses most school days, so homework, teacher updates, and events need to reach both homes.
- Some weekends for the weekday parent. Many families trade a few weekends a year, such as a birthday or a holiday weekend, so the weekday parent also gets free time with the children.
Pros and cons
- Stable weekday routine with one parent
- Second parent gets the weekend time: trips, activities, family events
- Useful when one parent works weekends (shift work, service industry) and the other works weekdays
- Weekday parent never gets leisure time with children; weekend parent never sees school days
- Can feel lopsided: one parent is 'school and homework,' the other is 'fun'
- Less common than other arrangements, so it may take extra explanation when writing up a plan
Best for
Families where one parent has a fixed weekday work schedule and the other works weekends.
By age
General guidance only. Every child is different, and what fits can change as they grow.
- Under 3: Five days between visits is long for a very young child. Child-development guidance generally favors short, frequent time with each parent at this age, so a weekday visit can help.
- 3 to 5: Workable, especially with a midweek call or visit with the weekend parent.
- 6 to 12: Often fine, though children may miss weekend time with one parent and weekday involvement from the other.
- Teens: Can be hard: teens often want weekends for friends, jobs, and sports. Expect to adjust.
Exchanges, holidays, and summer
- Exchange times: Two a week: weekend pickup on Saturday morning or Friday evening, and the return on Sunday evening or at school on Monday.
- Holidays: Most plans lay a holiday schedule over the regular rotation, with major holidays alternating by year. The holiday plan wins when they conflict, and the regular schedule picks back up after.
- Summer: Many families give the weekday parent some summer weekends or a vacation week, and give the weekend parent a longer block.
Common variations
- Every other weekend: The second parent has alternating weekends, about 80/20 overall.
- 70/30 split: The same calendar described as a 70/30 arrangement, with other common ways to reach that split.
- 4-3-4-3: Moves Friday to the weekend parent for a 4-and-3 split each week.
Common pitfalls
- Fun parent, school parent. One home handles homework and bedtimes, the other handles outings. Share both kinds of time where you can.
- No free weekends for the weekday parent. Without some trades, the weekday parent never has a weekend with the children. Write in a few swaps a year.
- Weekend activities clash. Sports, parties, and weekend jobs all land in one home. Decide together who drives and who pays.
Frequently asked questions
What split is every weekend?
In this calendar, the weekday parent has 10 of 14 days and the weekend parent has 4 of 14, about 70/30. Starting the weekend on Friday evening adds one night a week for the weekend parent.
Who is this schedule for?
Mostly families where one parent works weekdays and the other works weekends, or where one parent lives far enough away that school-night exchanges aren't practical.
Is every weekend good for young children?
The five weekdays apart can be long for very young children, so many families add a short weekday visit or call.
How is it different from every other weekend?
Every weekend gives the second parent twice as many weekends.
Put it on your calendar
In CoreParent, pick 5-2 (Every Weekend) in your parenting plan, choose who has the weekdays, and your calendar fills in who has the kids for the next 90 days. Share it with your co-parent, or keep it to yourself.